Regional employers encouraged to check visas

Released on = November 30, 2006, 4:33 am

Press Release Author = John Bell

Industry = Government

Press Release Summary = Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs AmandaVanstone is encouraging employers along the Western Australian harvest trail tocheck if the people they are employing are legally entitled to work in Australia.

Press Release Body = Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs AmandaVanstone is encouraging employers along the Western Australian harvest trail tocheck if the people they are employing are legally entitled to work in Australia.

'Western Australia is currently experiencing some high demand harvest times and pastexperience indicates some people working on the harvests are doing so illegally,'Senator Vanstone said today.

December is traditionally a time of high demand for casual workers to help harvest avariety of fruits and vegetables, including bananas in Carnarvon, and for theharvesting of strawberries in Albany and Mount Barker.

'The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs offers employers orcontractors the opportunity to check if people are entitled to work either throughthe Entitlement Verification Online (EVO) system or by contacting the department.

'EVO is a free online system that allows employers to check the work entitlements oftheir workers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

'Officers from the department can visit worksites to explain how to register andconduct checks on the work rights of potential employees.'

Parliament is currently considering new laws that will make it a criminal offence toknowingly or recklessly hire people who do not have a right to work in Australia,with fines of up to $66,000 and two years imprisonment.

The proposed offences would also apply to labour supply companies that refer peoplefor work.